Changeable exhibitor



Dec. 8, 1925.- 1,565,203

C. ROEMER CHANGE-ABLE EXHIBITOR Filed Oct. 11, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Dec. 8,1925- v 1,565,203

C. ROEMER CHANGEABLE EXHI BIT OR Filed Oct. '11. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2C. ROEMER CHANGEABLE EXHIBITOR Dec. 8 1925.

Filed Oct. 11. 1.924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 fizz/@7302 Waziea floe merPatented Dec. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES ROEMER, F JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE PANDORA SIGNCORPORATION, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

GHANGEABLE EXHIBITOR.

Application filed October 11, 1924. Serial No. 743,074.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES ROEMER, a citizenof the United States, residing at Jamestown, in the county of Chautauquaand State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Changeable Exhibitors, of which the following is a specification,reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to changeable exhibitors, and more particularlyto a device of this character having an endless perforated belt passingbetween illuminating elements and a translucent plate upon which i theperforations of the belt define letters or characters for shutting outthe undesirable rays of light.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter in which kinking and sagging of the perforated belt or tapebearing the message is prevented, and more particularly the provision ofa carrier tape and apparatus for mounting and driving the same whichsupports and mounts this perforated belt or tape at all times in properalignment.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter in which the belt may be readily removed to permit changingthereof, and in which means are provided for giving a desired color tothe lettering or characters produced.

A. still further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which is simple in its construction and operation, which maybe readily and cheaply produced, and which will be durable and eflicientin service.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is showna preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a changeable exhibitor constructed in accordance with myinvention;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section therethrough Figure 4 is ahorizontal longitudinal section therethrough;

Figure 5 is a transverse section therethrough;

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail 'sectional view through one of theadjustable mounting brackets;

Figure 7 is a perspective of one of the adjustable mounting bracketsdetached.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10indicates a base from which extends upwardly a rectangular open topframework 11, the side walls of which, indicated at 12, are providedwith openings 13 in which is arranged a translucent plate 1%, theseopenings being of less length than the sides for a purpose presently toappear. A cover 15 is provided having flanged edges 16 engagingdownwardly over the sides to maintain the cover in position and at thesame time to permit the same to be readily lifted from the side walls topermit inspection, adjustment or interchanging of the parts locatedwithin the side. walls upon the base, as hereinafter described. Arrangedwithin the side walls upon the base are a plurality of brackets 17, 18and 19, the bracket 17 being an operating end bracket, the bracket 18 anintermediate bracket, and the bracket 19 an adjusting end bracket, andas such hereinafter referred to. These brackets are each attached attheir lower ends to the base, as indicated at 20, and each haveapproximately midway their height an opening 21, the bot-tom surface ofwhich is fiat. Extending through the openings 21' is a support in theform of a flat bar 22 which is secured to each of the brackets at itspoint of engagement with the fiat bottom thereof, as indicated at 23,thus rigidifying the brackets to one another at a point spaced above thebase. This support serves as a mounting for a plurality of illuminatingelements 24, which in the present instance are shown as mounted uponopposite sides of the support intermediate the brackets 17, 18 and 19.It will be understood that the number of brackets 18 employed dependsentirely upon the length of the sign casing and may be varied as isfound necessary or desirable.

Each of the brackets is further provided at its upper end with ahorizontally extending arm 25 forming a means for mounting above thebracket pulleys, the pulley of the bracket 17 being designated at 26,while those of the intermediate and adjusting end brackets are indicatedat 27. The operating end bracket 17- is provided at that face thereofnext adjacent the adjacent end of the casing with a shelf 28 spaced fromthe base 10, this shelf being a support for a gear box 29 within whichis contained re duction gearing, as generally indicated upon thedrawings. Through the side wall of this casing extends a shaft 80, theend of which is provided with a large pulley 8 Beneath the shelf uponthe base is mounted a motor 82, the armature shaft of which has a drivepulley 33 connected with the pulley 31 by a belt 34:. Ehrough the upperwall of the gear box 29 extends a vertical shaft 35, the upper end ofwhich is directed through the arm 25 of the bracket 17 and has securedthereto the pulley 26, the lower end of the pulley hub 26 resting uponthe upper surface of the arm.

The arms of the brackets 17 and 18 are each provided with alongitudinally extending slot, and these arms are preferably directedtoward the opposite end of the easing from that at which the operatingend bracket 17 is located. lVithin the slot of the arm 25 of thebrackets 18 and 19 is slidably disposed a bolt 36, the head of whichabuts the under surface of the arm and the shank of which is directedthrough the slot. Upon the upper surface of the arm a steel sleeve 87surrounds the bolt and is surmounted by a washer 38 and a lever nut 39.By tightening the lever nut, the sleeve may be held in adjustedpositions longitudinally of the arm. Surrounding these sleeves are thehubs 40 of the pulleys 27.

Each of the pulleys 26 and 27 is provided in its periphery with aii-shaped groove 41 for the reception of the inner face of a carrierbelt 42 which conforms in shaping to the groove so that it its tightlytherein. This belt may be tightened with relation to the pulleys byadjusting the pulley of the adjusting end bracket 19 to secure the desired tension of this carrier belt. The outer surface of this belt isvertically disposed and has secured thereto a perforated tape or skirt43, the perforations of which combine to produce any desired series ofillustrations or message. It will be obvious that the light from theilluminating elements passing through these perforations will be castupon the translucent plate and will be readable therethrough, and thatas the skirt is driven from the motor these perforations will slowlypass the openings, permitting reading of the legend of the skirt. Ateach sideof the casing, between the skirt and the illuminating element,is arranged a transparent tinting panel at, the ends of which are heldin position by means of vertically disposed U-guides 45 extendingupwardly from the base. It will be obvious that by changing thesetinting panels any desired. color or combination of colors in thecharacters finally produced may be had.

Since the device as hereinbefore described is capable of a considerablerange of change and modification Without materially departing from thespirit of my invention, 1 do not limit myself to such specific structureexcept as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In a changeable exhibitor, a plurality of supports, aplurality of pulleys carried by the supports and arranged in a counnonplane and having their peripheries grooved, means for driving one ofsaid pulleys, means for adjusting another of said pulleys toward andaway from the first named pulley, an endless carrier belt having itsinner face conforming in shaping to the grooves of the pulleys andfitting into the grooves of all of said pulleys, a perforated skirtsecured to the outer face of said carrier belt and freely dependingtherefrom, said pulleys being of greater diameter than the width of anyportions of said supports arranged between the opposed portions of theskirt whereby said. skirt is free from engagement with said supports.

2. In a changeable exhibitor, a casing having a translucent panel in thelongitudinal wall thereof, the casing including a base, a plurality ofbrackets spaced longitudinally of said base and extending upwardlytherefrom, said brackets being secured at their lower ends to the baseand having aligned openings formed therein at points spaced verticallyfrom the base, a bar extending through said openings and secured to eachof said brackets, illuminating elements car ried by said bar, and meanssupported from the brackets limiting passage of the rays from theilluminating elements to define upon the translucent panel of the casinga sensible indication.

3. In a changeable exhibitor, a casing having a translucent panel in thelongitudinal wall thereof, the casing including a base, a plurality ofbrackets spaced longitudinally of said base and extending upwardlytherefrom, said brackets being secured at their lower ends to the baseand having aligned openings formed therein at points spaced verticallyfrom the base, a bar extending through said openings and secured to eachof said brackets, illuminating elements carried by said bar, and meanssupported from the brackets limiting passage of the rays from theilluminating elements to define upon the translucent panel of the casinga sensible indication comprising a continuous perforated curtain, eachof said brackets being provided at the upper end thereof with arotatable pulley, the pulleys being arranged in a common plane andhaving the outer faces thereof grooved, and a belt secured to the innerface of the upper edge of said ourtain and having its inner face shapedto conform to the groove of the pulleys.

4:. In a changeable exhibitor, a casing having a translucent panel inthe longitudinal wall thereof, the casing including a base, a pluralityof brackets spaced longitudinally of said base and extending upwardlytherefrom, said brackets being secured at their lower ends to the baseand having aligned openings formed therein at points spaced verticallfrom the base, a bar extending through said openings and secured to eachof said brackets, illuminating elements carried by said bar, meanssupported from the brackets limiting passage of the rays from theilluminating elements to define upon the translucent panel of the casinga sensible indication comprising a continuous perforated curtain, eachof said brackets being provided at the upper end thereof with arotatable pulley, the pulleys being arranged in a common plane andhaving the outer faces thereof grooved, a belt secured to the inner faceof the upper edge of said ourtain and having its inner face shaped toconform to the groove of the pulleys, means for driving one of saidpulleys, and means for adjusting another of said pulleys toward and awayfrom the first named pulley.

5. In a changeable exhibitor, a plurality of supports, a plurality ofpulleys carried by the supports and arranged in a common plane andhaving their peripheries provided with V-shaped grooves, means fordriving one of said pulleys, means for adjusting another of said pulleystoward and away from the first named pulley, an endless carrier beltfitting into the grooves of all of said pulleys, a perforated skirt scured to the outer face of said carrier belt and depending therefrom,said pulleys being of greater diameter than the width of any portions ofsaid supports arranged between the opposed portions of the skirt wherebysaid skirt is free from engagement with said supports. a

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

CHARLES ROEMER.

